CONFIDENCE, COMPETENCE, AGENCY
Enterprise, education and empowerment by and for rural women
A DYNAMIC CURRICULUM DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP AROUND THE WORLD
RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS RAISED BY GRASSROOTS WOMEN THEMSELVES
Barefoot College International believes in the key role women play in improving the overall quality of life within underdeveloped rural villages. The Barefoot Enriche programme invests in women to help them reach their full potential so that they can fulfill their aspirations and transform their communities. The Enriche curriculum provides rural women with the opportunity to gain confidence, practical knowledge and skills that are relevant to their life and priorities.
Enriche has curated content which works in partnership with indigenous and local NGOs.
Every Barefoot Woman is trained to train others, she is taught to share her knowledge with as many in her community as possible; Integrating digital tools and literacy to expand her abilities and her capacity to share her knowledge with others.
For women who have been denied a formal education opportunity, the Enriche curriculum upholds a democratic learning environment, free from barriers and inclusive of her many existing skills and wisdom.
We believe that addressing underlying structural and social barriers to women’s empowerment can only be achieved using a holistic participatory approach. Enriche focuses on eight foundational pillars:
Digital Literacy
Using a tablet, a smartphone or an LED TV to communicate and to share content. Playing and capturing digital audio-visual content. Having the opportunity to learn functional numeracy, literacy and language skills using digital applications.
Environmental Stewardship
Being aware of the local and global environmental interconnectedness. Understanding permaculture principles and applying agroecology solutions such as soil regeneration, compost making, generation and storage of seeds, and water management.
Financial Inclusion
Making decisions with financial resources, and acquiring basic functional numeracy skills. Knowing how to make a budget, understanding the importance of savings. Understanding the benefits of having a bank account. Forming saving groups and accessing loans with the support of partner NGOs.
Human Rights & Civil Society
Raising awareness on basic human rights and responsibilities related to education, health, governance, gender, economic development. Forming issue based self-help groups to address challenges and participate in civil society.
Livelihood Skills
Mastering practical skills to start an income generating activity such as tailoring, beekeeping or soap making. Livelihood activities are selected as per the interest of the women and the local environment or opportunities. Ground partners provide the support needed to implement them in their communities.
Micro-Enterprise
Understanding micro-enterprise concepts and basic skills such as planning, budgeting, recording cash flows and marketing to manage an individual enterprise or a cooperative. Accessing financial services and creating simple business models with the support of partner NGOs.
Women’s Health
Being aware, comfortable and knowledgeable about one’s body, starting a critical thought process around health related myths and social norms. Knowing basic hygiene practices. Understanding reproductive health and contraception, creating your own menstrual hygiene solutions. Improving diets to prevent malnutrition and common ailments.
Self-Awareness
Being confident to express oneself andprovided with the opportunity to bring forth fears, aspirations and hopes. Realizing one’s potential and mobilizing available resources to achieve individual and collective objectives.
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
We define menstrual hygiene holistically as the articulation, awareness, information and confidence to manage menstruation with safety and dignity. Our programs promote the use of safe, accessible, affordable, appropriate and accepted hygienic materials together with adequate water and agents and spaces for washing and bathing and disposal with privacy and dignity.
Barefoot College International is disseminating knowledge on menstrual and reproductive health and other aspects of women’s health. The team on health has been able to address issues on sexual and reproductive health, focusing on the production of washable sanitary napkins, in partnership with other organizations to facilitate the distribution of washable sanitary towels. The project focuses on building a community and enriching the lives of women and girls by providing caring and quality services to meet their social, health, educational and developmental needs through leadership, empowerment and strategic partnerships.
